Stuffed Bell Peppers Over Dirty Rice

Continuing in the theme of things that happened over a month ago, I thought I'd share this recipe.  When I made it, I still had a glut of garden tomatoes and peppers from my garden. (That basil was a last-minute addition, and came from a plant on my windowsill.) There's still a trickle of fresh tomatoes and peppers, either ripening in the shed or picked up from the farmer's market from a grower witty enough to outsmart the frost. This recipe is quick to put together - most of the work occurs in the oven and the ricepot.

Last(ish) Caprese

When I made this caprese, I was sure it would be the last of the season. It's the last of the season with tomatoes from my garden, to be sure, although I did find some tomatoes at the farmer's market.

Like so many gardeners do, I say goodbye to tomato season with mixed feelings. I'm glad that the time to be overwhelmed with tomatoes waiting to be canned, frozen, or eaten is drawing to a close. I have plenty of tomatoes canned or tucked into the freezer to get me through the winter, but I sure will miss fresh tomatoes since I absolutely refuse to buy tomatoes from the grocery store in the winter.

Bruschetta

If you're lucky enough to still have fresh heirloom tomatoes where you are, I hope you're savoring them. My favorite way to do this is with some bruschetta.

Take some amazing gluten-free bread, and sprinkle it with basil, oregano, garlic, and thyme. I use Penzey's Pasta Sprinkle, because it goes on everything I make. I buy it in big ol' bags, and no, they didn't pay me to say that...

Smother with butter, and don't tell my mother I still eat butter all by itself...then toast to get the butter and herbs all way down in the cracks of the bread

Race to the Start

It's a race against the clock. Days are getting shorter, nights are getting colder, and the down comforter has replaced the light summer blanket on the bed. We walk around the house in slippers and flannel.

Winter is coming.

The garden--right before I ripped everything out

You can see it in the garden. Out came the sunflowers and cucumbers to make way for the garlic, getting ready to sleep through the winter under their blankets of mulch.

First Frost

Just like that, we're down to green tomatoes that may never ripen...